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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #265281
Title: Microsporidian and viral pathogens for the biological control of imported fire ants: can we walk the talk?

Author
item Oi, David

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2011
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: . Invasive ants are among the most serious of arthropod invaders. These ants infest a wide range of habitats and impact biodiversity, agriculture, and human health. Self-sustaining biological control is one of the few hopes for permanent regional suppression of these established invasive ants. For imported fire ants, microsporidian and viral pathogens are one of the few agents with documented colony level impacts. They have desirable attributes of host specificity and the capability to infiltrate colonies. However, their field impact at the population level, while promising, may not match expectations. Factors affecting the impact of these pathogens are discussed along with future opportunities to better utilize entomopathogens for fire ant control.